Post on 16-Oct-2021
Proposal Writer’s Guide
Preparing Proposal for MAST Laboratory
MAST Laboratory Report No. MAST-16-12
December 18, 2016
MAST Laboratory Site Access and Policy ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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The MAST Laboratory is supported by the Department of Civil, Environmental, and
Geo- Engineering, the College of Science and Engineering, and the University of
Minnesota.
©2016 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have
equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race,
color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public
assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.
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Contents
Contents ......................................................................................................3
How this guide is organized ......................................................................5
Contact information...................................................................................5
Capabilities of the MAST system .............................................................6
System specifications .......................................................................... 7
Ancillary actuators .............................................................................. 7
Data Acquisition and Sensors ...................................................................8
MAST Data Acquisition System ......................................................... 8
Krypton Coordinate Measuring Machine ........................................... 8
Specimen instrumentation ................................................................... 9
Displacement sensors .................................................................. 10
Tiltmeters .................................................................................... 10
Load cell equipment .................................................................... 10
Imaging ..................................................................................................... 11
Cameras and lighting towers ............................................................. 11
Example test specimens ...........................................................................12
Example 1- Beam-Column or Slab-Column Joints .......................... 12
Example 2 - Flanged Wall ................................................................. 12
Example 3 - Multi-story Frame ......................................................... 13
Specimen considerations .........................................................................13
Horizontal clearances ........................................................................ 14
........................................................................................................... 14
Standard crosshead heights ............................................................... 15
Strong wall reaction system .............................................................. 15
Strong floor reaction system ............................................................. 16
Crosshead attachment ....................................................................... 16
Strong floor/Strong Wall Attachment Plates ..................................... 17
Project Planning and Execution .............................................................17
The Project Work Plan ...................................................................... 18
Work Plan outline........................................................................ 18
Specimen construction, test preparation, and demolition ................. 19
Construction space ...................................................................... 19
Project labor ................................................................................ 20
External contractor agreements................................................... 20
Training the project team ............................................................ 20
Available tools and equipment .................................................... 20
Rack storage space ...................................................................... 21
Demolition and clean-up ............................................................. 21
Recharge Rates and User Fee Policy ................................................ 21
University of Minnesota business hours and calendar ...................... 22
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Visit MAST Laboratory .................................................................... 22
Checklist....................................................................................................23
Schedule & budget considerations .................................................... 23
Technical considerations ................................................................... 23
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How this guide is organized
This guide contains information about the capabilities of the MAST system and
laboratory facilities, examples of test specimens, site access policies, and budget and
schedule considerations that a user preparing a proposal may find helpful.
We hope this will provide a good starting point for the proposal planning process. If
you have a question that is not covered by the information in this, please feel free to
contact the MAST staff.
Contact information
Paul Bergson, the Operations Manager, is the primary contact for questions regarding
the MAST facility and equipment. Paul Bergson can be reached by phone at 612-
626-1823 or by email at mast-contact@ umn.edu.
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Capabilities of the MAST system
There are two key features of the MAST system. The first is the implementation of a
sophisticated six degree-of-freedom (DOF) control system to enable application of
complex multi-directional deformation or loading schemes to structural
subassemblages. The second is the ability to apply large loads and deformations to
enable testing of large-scale structural subassemblages including portions of beam-
column frame systems, walls, and bridge piers.
The MAST system employs an advanced MTS six degree-of-freedom controller to
position a rigid steel crosshead using eight actuators. The six degrees of freedom in
the global coordinate system of the MAST are shown in Figure 1.
The user can specify target inputs in terms of either global position or global load.
Through coordinated control of these components, the system enables control of the
crosshead position as a plane in space, which makes it possible to apply triaxial
control to structures such as multi-bay subassemblages or walls, or other components,
as well as application of planar translations to planar substructures.
It is also possible to control the crosshead in mixed mode, setting some of the degrees
of freedom in load control and others in displacement control; for example,
controlling vertical force to simulate gravity while applying displacements (drifts or
rotations) in the X and Y directions. DOFs can be configured in linear slaving
relationships (i.e., link one DOF to another DOF) to the feedback signal of
independent DOF’s. For example, the moment on the test structure can be controlled
as a function of the applied shear of the test specimen, which might be used to control
moment-to-shear ratios on wall elements.
X
Roll
Pitch
Longitudinal
Late
ral
Actuator X1
Actuator X2
Actuator Y3
Actuator
Z2
Actuator
Z3
YPositive Y
Positive X
Actuator
Z4
Actuator
Z1Actuator
Y4
Vertical
Positive Z
ZYaw
Figure 1. Isometric of crosshead positioned in strong walls
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The typical quasi-static low-force loading rate that the MAST system can achieve is
one-inch/minute.
System specifications
The maximum non-concurrent force and displacement capabilities of each DOF of
the MAST system are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Maximum non-concurrent capacities of MAST DOFs
Degree of Freedom (DOF) Load Stroke / Rotation
X Translation
Rotation
880 kips
8910 kip-ft
16 inches
7 degrees
Y Translation
Rotation
880 kips
8910 kip-ft
16 inches
7 degrees
Z Translation
Rotation
1320 kips
13,200 kip-feet
20 inches
10 degrees
Ancillary actuators
Four ±220 kip ancillary actuators with ±10-inch stroke enable further customization
of a testing protocol. Each of the ancillary actuators can be independently controlled
by user-specified load or displacement targets, or be slaved to another ancillary
actuator or DOF.
An example of using independently controlled ancillary actuators would be
controlling one or more ancillary actuators to apply simulated gravity loading
distributed along a floor or a test structure. An example of slaving one or more
ancillary actuators to a set of scaled master drive signals is to use the ancillary
actuators to apply lateral displacements (or loads) to intermediate stories of multi-
story subassemblages that are proportional to those applied at the crosshead.
Brackets for connecting the ancillary actuators to the strong walls or strong floor are
available. The user is responsible for providing connections between the ancillary
actuators and the specimen.
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Data Acquisition and Sensors
This section provides a summary of the MAST Laboratory data acquisition and
instrumentation capabilities.
MAST Data Acquisition System
The MAST Data Acquisition System (DAQ) is capable of sampling 172 channels of
±10V voltage input and 248 channels of quarter bridge 120-ohm strain gage input at
rates up to 10Hz. In addition to collecting sensor data, the DAQ system also collects
the DOF and ancillary actuator feedbacks (displacements and loads), shear, and warp
from the analog outputs of the MTS controller.
The MAST Lab provides interconnect boxes for connecting sensors to the DAQ
system. The user can decide on placement of the boxes, and will be responsible for all
wiring from the sensor to the boxes. The MAST lab provides wiring from the
interconnect boxes to the DAQ.
All sensor data capturing, displaying, and storing (except the Krypton CMM data) is
handled by the DAQ system. Data collected from an experiment is stored on the
MAST local repository. When the experiment concludes, MAST staff will assist in
transferring data to a portable hard drive or the DesignSafe site
(https://www.designsafe-ci.org/) if applicable.
Krypton Coordinate Measuring Machine
The MAST Laboratory has one Krypton Coordinate
Measuring Machine (CMM) system. The system
consists of a camera, infrared Light Emitting Diodes
(LEDs), and control hardware and software. Through
triangulation, the system can calculate the 3D positions
of up to 128 LEDs (MAST currently has 100 LEDs) in
the camera’s 13.1 m³ field of view. Data sampling and
archiving of the CMM system are synchronized with the
DAQ system using TTL signals. The CMM system can be
used to perform as-built verifications of specimens, generating metadata associated
with sensor locations, and measuring 3D displacements of the structural surface.
MAST staff recommends that the user not solely rely on the Krypton system and take
redundant data using a different type of sensor for important data.
CMM Manufacturer Specifications (units are shown in metric):
Noise (1σ): 0.01 mm
Field-of-view: 13.1 m³ distributed into three accuracy zones as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 2. Coordinate
Measuring Machine
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Figure 3. CMM system accuracy zones (from Krypton User Manual)
Table 2. CMM accuracy (from Krypton Manual)
Zone Volumetric Accuracy (±2σ)
Single Point Accuracy (±2σ)
I 90µm + 10µm/m 60µm + 7µm/m
II 90µm + 25µm/m 60µm + 17µm/m
III 190µm + 25µm/m 130µm + 17µm/m
For more information on the Krypton CMM, please contact MAST staff.
Specimen instrumentation
The MAST Lab owns a large number of sensors available for the user, including
LVDTs, string potentiometers, tiltmeters and load cells. The following section
describes each of these sensors.
Project-specific calibration of any of the displacement sensors is the responsibility of
the user. At the end of the testing of the final specimen, MAST staff will remove and
return all laboratory-owned instrumentation and cabling.
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Displacement sensors
Table 3 lists all of the Macro-Sensor LVDT’s and Unimeasure string potentiometers
available. The MAST Laboratory uses Schaevitz ATA-2001 LVDT conditioner units
for all LVDTs.
Table 3. Quantity and types of displacement sensors available at the MAST Laboratory
Quantity: LVDT and signal conditioning Range
6 2.0 inches
27 1.0 inch
32 0.5 inches
16 0.1 inches
Quantity: String potentiometers Range
14 40 inches
8 30 inches
8 20 inches
14 10 inches
14 5 inches
20 3 inches
38 2 inches
Tiltmeters
The Applied Geomechanics tiltmeter units (6 available) at the MAST Laboratory
meet these specifications:
biaxial tilt measurement about two orthogonal horizontal axes when mounted on a
wall
switchable gain between 8 degrees and 0.8 degrees at full scale
1 micro radian resolution or better
Load cell equipment
The following biaxial load cell equipment for use with clevis pin fixtures is available
at the Lab:
two 1,000-kip load cells
four 600-kip load cells
related signal conditioners/amplifiers
The lab does not provide fixtures (i.e. clevis pins) for attaching the load cells to the
test structure or reaction surface
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Imaging
The MAST system provides extensive imaging capabilities to assist users in
documenting experiments. This section provides an overview of MAST imaging
capabilities.
Cameras and lighting towers
The MAST Laboratory provides four robotic towers that can be used to position
cameras along the full height of the specimen. The towers may be adjusted to heights
overall heights of 12, 18, or 24 feet. Each tower incorporates two shelves that can be
vertically positioned independent of one another.
Each tower shelf includes 1 x Canon SX110IS 9-megapixel still image camera
with remotely controlled pan, tilt, zoom, focus, and shutter options. Cameras
output to the JPEG image format. In addition, these cameras can be used to
capture timelapse images during construction
The MAST Laboratory has a Canon EOS 6D for use to take timelapse images
during the course of the project.
The shelves can be easily moved vertically for positioning. Users can direct and focus
the cameras and capture still images from the control room. MAST personnel install
the towers in the test bay, before, during, or after specimen construction, depending
upon the type of specimen and the requirements of construction. After the test is
complete, MAST staff will remove the cameras, lights and towers as demolition
permits.
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Example test specimens
To help plan a proposal, this section describes three potential test specimens that
could be tested within the MAST system, including a slab-column joint, a multi-bay
frame, and a concrete shear wall system. For more information on past projects at
MAST, please contact MAST Staff. Additional information is available at
http://mastlab.umn.edu.
Example 1- Beam-Column or Slab-Column Joints
A slab-column joint that was tested as part
of a NEESR project is shown in Figure 4.
The test specimen represented a portion of
a structure modeled from the foundation to
the inflection point assumed to occur at
midheight of the column and midspan of
the floors. To represent the boundary
conditions, movement of the top of the
column was controlled by the MAST
crosshead and the bottom end of the
column was attached to the strong floor
with a moment connection (in this case, a
concrete base block provided by the user).
Alternatively, the user could provide a
universal joint for connection of the bottom
half-story column to the floor to simulate the inflection point in the lower column.
The four ancillary actuators were used to control the story elevation of the slab
perimeter (or beam ends for a beam-column connection) while the column was
subjected to a pre-defined displacement history. The MAST 6-DOF control enabled
the application of complex biaxial displacement histories. In combination with
mixed-mode control, the axial load on the column was controlled as well.
Example 2 - Flanged Wall
The MAST system provides the means to conduct tests to investigate the multi-
directional behavior of nonrectangular wall systems. The sample reinforced concrete
core wall shown in Figure 5, represents the lower four stories of a six-story prototype
T-wall structure that was tested within the MAST Laboratory in Summer 2006.
The wall was subjected to prescribed bi-axial lateral drifts. At the same time, mixed-
mode control imposed the desired axial load and moment-to-shear ratio at the
boundaries in the two orthogonal directions.
Figure 4. Slab-Column
Subassemblage
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Figure 5. Schematic of 4-story T-wall test specimen
Example 3 - Multi-story Frame
The multi-directional testing capabilities of the MAST system makes it possible to
test a variety of multi-story multi-bay two- or three-dimensional structural frames.
Examples of possible test frame configurations are shown in Figure 6. The figure
also introduces different concepts for using the ancillary actuators to provide
supplemental lateral loads at the individual intermediate story levels or supplemental
gravity loads to the floor systems.
Figure 6. Examples of Multi-story Multi-bay Frames
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Specimen considerations
Although the MAST system is very flexible at accommodating test specimens of
various sizes with various simulated boundary conditions, several parameters must be
considered when designing the specimens. These parameters are outlined in the
following sections.
Horizontal clearances
The clear horizontal distance between vertical actuators can accommodate specimens
up to 20 feet in length in the two primary orthogonal directions. To increase the
horizontal clearance limitations by several feet, it is possible to orient a test specimen
along a diagonal.
Figure 7 shows available working space in the strong floor area. The shaded areas
represent potential interference with the movements of the vertical actuators.
Figure 7. Strong floor interference and working space
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Standard crosshead heights
Maximum vertical clearance of 28.75 feet is limited by the height of the L-shaped
reaction walls to which the lateral and longitudinal actuators attach. Other standard
crosshead heights are available by repositioning the horizontal actuator attachments
and removing spacers from the vertical actuator assemblies. Standard dimensions
between the strong floor and the bottom of the crosshead start at 18.25 feet and go to
28.75 feet in 1.5 feet increments. Figure 8 illustrates the standard crosshead
positions. At each standard position, the vertical actuators are at mid-stroke to provide
flexibility for actuator extension or contraction.
Figure 8. Standard positions of crosshead
Strong wall reaction system
The MAST Laboratory strong walls are L-shaped in plan. Each leg is 35 feet high, 35
feet wide, and seven feet thick.
The overall load capacities at the base of the wall are:
out-of-plane (horizontal) shear equal to 1760 kips
out-of-plane moment equal to 43,600 kip-ft
vertical torsion equal to 38,000 kip-ft
Maximum horizontal deflection design limit for the walls is ±0.5 inches.
Each wall has a regular grid of through-holes with nominal 18-inch spacing, center-
to-center. Each three-inch unthreaded through hole has combined loading capacity of
±125 kip normal to the wall face and 125-kip shear.
When ancillary actuators are used and attached to the walls, preliminary load
demands on the strong wall should be assessed by the user during the proposal
writing process. More refined calculations can be made during the Workplan process.
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Drawings of the strong walls are available for download on the MAST website at
http://nees.umn.edu/facilities/mast.php on the “Documents” tab.
Strong floor reaction system
The MAST strong floor is a 7.5 ft thick, solid concrete slab on piles, covered with a
5.5-inch-thick steel plate forming the tie-down surface.
The three-inch threaded tie-down holes have combined loading capacity of ±125 kip
normal to the floor face and 125 kip shear. For purposes of proposal writing, limit
combined distributed force on the strong floor to 148 kip/ft2 normal to the floor face
and 148 kip/ft2 shear. Detailed assessment of floor stresses will be necessary during
the Work Plan process. The strong floor is post-tensioned to minimize deflection.
The hole spacing on the floor is on an 18” square pattern, with additional holes
spaced at 9” directly under the crosshead. A drawing of the strong floor layout is
available for download on the MAST website at
http://nees.umn.edu/facilities/mast.php on the “Documents” tab.
Crosshead attachment
Load demands on the MAST crosshead due to specimen attachments are determined
for each experiment. In general, the following guidelines will reduce potential
problems with crosshead connections.
When possible, specimens attached to the underside of the crosshead should
span the 4.5 ft by 4.5 ft central box of the crosshead. For specimens that
cannot span this distance, MAST provides a stiffening plate to reduce the
localized effects of the point load on the crosshead.
Specimens put into compression will have fewer crosshead attachment issues
than those put into pure shear or shear/tension forces.
Specimens that are placed diagonally to the crosshead may require large
spreader systems (provided by the user) to be attached between the crosshead
arms. The specimen then attaches to these diagonal spreader frames.
Masonry specimens generally require concrete footers and headers with
reinforcing to provide shear capacity at the crosshead interface.
Non-threaded, 1 5/8” holes are drilled into the bottom plate of the crosshead. Access
is provided to the inside of the crosshead for tightening bolts. The nominal hole
pattern on the underside of the crosshead is shown in Figure 9.
The four-hole tabs at the side of the vertical actuator attachment sites are not intended
for specimen use.
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Figure 9. Pattern of attachment holes on crosshead bottom flange
Strong floor/Strong Wall Attachment Plates
MAST has four 48”x48”x4” steel
transfer plates that can be used for
specimen attachment to the strong
floor or strong walls and have a
nominal capacity of 1000-kips
normal to the plate and a shear
capacity of 1000-kips. The plates
are attached to the strong floor or
strong wall and the specimens
connect to the plates via the 1”-
diameter threaded holes. Figure
10 details the plate layout and
dimensions.
Figure 10. Strong floor/Strong Wall
attachment plates
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Project Planning and Execution
This section describes important aspects of planning and executing experiments at the
MAST Laboratory that will affect the project schedule and project budget. As soon
as the user has confirmed their funding, the user and MAST Staff must reach an
agreement on the project duration and preliminary schedule, prior to executing a
contract between the user and the University of Minnesota (External Sales Office).
The Project Work Plan
The key to safe and efficient use of the MAST lab is the project Work Plan. Prior to
gaining access to the lab, the Principle Investigator must develop a detailed Work
Plan and project schedule, and have it approved by the MAST Operations Manager.
The Work Plan is the master document outlining the project for the duration of
laboratory use. One of the purposes of the work plan is for the user and the MAST
Floor Manager to ensure that the PIs vision of the project is realized.
After approval of the Work Plan and Schedule, the user will be allowed access to
MAST Lab depending upon availability. It is recommended that a minimum of four
months be allowed from submittal of the initial draft Work Plan.
Work Plan outline
The Work Plan outline identifies specific tasks, both primary and secondary, related
to project activities at MAST and aids in developing a project schedule. This
information will also be used to develop a formal Work Plan, identify tasks that
require submittal of procedural documents (task plans), and set dates for task plan
review. Ultimately, the Work Plan will include detailed descriptions of each of the
following items for each test specimen:
Project summary and critical information
Specimen and other component drawings
Information, documents and drawings required from MAST
Data management plan
Risk management and hazard identification plan
Construction activities
MAST detailed specimen rigging/moving plan (developed by MAST staff with
user input)
Instrumentation and DAQ plan
Imaging plan
Specimen displacement/loading plan
Post-test investigations (if needed), demolition and cleanup activities (developed
by MAST staff with User input)
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Specimen construction, test preparation, and demolition
As many aspects of the specimen preparation and construction could affect a research
project’s schedule and budget, proposal submitters are encouraged to think about the
likely construction process. This section outlines specimen construction related
information at the MAST Laboratory that may be helpful for proposal planning.
Construction space
Depending upon the type of project, scheduling constraints, and the specimen being
investigated, construction or assembly may take place in the staging area, the Test
Bay, or if the User chooses, at an offsite location (e.g. the user’s home laboratory, a
fabrication yard, or other location). If construction occurs at an offsite location,
MAST may be able to provide, for a fee, equipment such as rigging or tensioning
hardware for shipping purposes.
MAST staff will assist users in developing a rigging/moving plan for repositioning
test specimens in the Lab.
The Staging area is approximately 35 ft by 35 ft, as shown in the floor plan below.
The Strong Floor and Test Bay is 35 ft by 35 ft, shown within dotted lines.
Figure 10. Floor plan of MAST Laboratory showing areas of access
The locations of the camera and lighting towers will need to be planned. MAST staff
will consult with the user about where to install the cameras and lighting. Some
specimen design may require that a tower be installed during construction rather than
after.
Test Bay
Office Area
Electrical Room
Mechanical Room
Pump Room
Storage Room
Conference Room
112 111 107
Staging Area
110
Control Room
Exit
Visitor viewing area
Areas of access
35 ft.
35 ft.
Loading Dock
M
E
N
W
O
M
E
N
Front Entry <- Parking ->
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Project labor
The available labor force should be considered in developing the project schedule and
budget. Project labor for construction, instrumentation and other test preparation may
include any of the following:
the user provides staffing that may include technicians, graduate students and
undergraduate students from their home institution
the user may hire contractors
U of MN undergraduates are available (a recharge is associated with this option)
MAST recommends providing 100 hours of labor per week during the time a project
is using the Lab, in order to make reasonable progress. Most projects that have used
the MAST Laboratory have sent personnel to reside in Minnesota during the
construction and testing phases, and have hired Minnesota undergraduate students to
work with the user. The undergraduate labor rate is $16/hour.
External contractor agreements
Depending on the project schedule and budget, subcontractors may perform portions
of the work associated with a project. Contractors whose services are secured directly
by the User will be subject to the access limitations placed on the User by the
agreement between the user and the University of Minnesota. Details concerning the
oversight of subcontractors will be contained in the agreement between the University
of Minnesota and the User
Training the project team
The MAST Laboratory requires that all students, employees, and others who will be
working at the Lab take part in a lab safety and awareness training session. The
MAST Lab safety policy is available on the MAST website. MAST staff will provide
training for project personnel on general lab operations, construction, and
instrumentation as needed by the project.
Available tools and equipment
The MAST Lab owns hand tools, power tools and construction equipment that are
available for User use. Major equipment is listed below. Please contact MAST staff
for a complete list of tools, or to check availability of a specific item.
a wide range of hand tools including hammers, screwdrivers, wire cutters and
strippers, standard wrenches and torque wrenches, a torque multiplier, etc.
power tools including a circular saw, band saw, miter-saw, cut-off saw, grinders,
a magnetic drill, hand drills, Hilti construction drill, etc.
pneumatic tools including an impact wrench, chipping hammer and jackhammers
Lincoln DC600 electric welder with a dual wire feed unit and arc-gouging
Capacitor discharge welder for attaching studs for instrument brackets
oxy-acetylene cutting torch
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a frame scaffolding system, with components to build nine 5ft tall levels of 5 ft
wide by 7 ft long by frames
three scissor lifts with a working height of varying from 19ft to 36ft.
EFCO Super Stud framing members
1.25 yd3 concrete bucket
Hilti D-200 core machine
Use of any tool or equipment in the MAST lab is subject to the guidelines specified in
the MAST site access and safety policies.
The MAST Lab does not provide equipment for batching or mixing concrete.
Concrete cylinder, steel coupon, and other material testing is available at the U of MN
Theodore V Galambos Structural Engineering Lab, subject to a recharge fee.
Rack storage space
Rack storage space is available. The amount of space available is dependent on the
number of projects in the lab.
Demolition and clean-up
After testing of the final specimen is complete, the user is responsible for demolition
and removal of the specimen. Sensors provided by MAST must be removed prior to
demolition.
There are several labor options for demolition and removal of the specimen:
experienced contractors (part of project budget)
team of U of MN undergraduates (recharge applies)
the user can supply personnel. The work must be done with MAST staff on hand
who are qualified to operate the crane and other needed lab equipment.
Recharge Rates and User Fee Policy
The rate to use the facility is $1,300 per day. The rate is assessed from the day the
project starts activities at the MAST Laboratory and ends when the project is fully
completed with activities at the MAST Laboratory. In addition, there is a one-time
$1,700 crosshead repositioning fee. The daily rate includes use of equipment and
1.25 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Staffing. University of Minnesota undergraduate
students are available at $16 per hour to assist on project specific activities. The user
is responsible for costs associated with specimen construction, material and items
related to the project, debris removal, and the use of any equipment or testing services
in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering Structures
Laboratory (located in the Civil Engineering Building). The Krypton 3D
measurement system is available for use and please contact MAST Staff for an
estimate of rates.
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University of Minnesota business hours and calendar
Project schedules for the MAST Lab are based on a conventional 5-day work week
with office/lab hours between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Work shall not be conducted in
the MAST Laboratory after hours or during official University of Minnesota holidays
without prior approval of the Operations Manager. Official University of Minnesota
holidays can be found at http://www.umn.edu.
Visit MAST Laboratory
Scheduled visits to the MAST Laboratory prior to the approval of Work Plans are
welcome.
Access to the MAST Laboratory for the project period defined in the Work Plan will
be provided by card keys. Visiting graduate students will be issued a University of
Minnesota ID for use during their stay.
For visitor information please contact MAST staff.
Minnesota usually has cold winters and occasional hot weeks in summers. Springs
and falls are usually mild, but temperature can vary quite quickly on a daily basis.
The winters are snowy with on average 45.8 inches annually.
The year’s average daily temperatures (F) for central Minnesota:
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
11.8 17.9 31.0 46.4 58.5 68.2 73.6 70.5 60.5 48 33.2 17.9
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Checklist
Schedule & budget considerations
Project Work Plan development
Specimen fabrication costs
Expendable items such as connection rod, nut, bolts, etc.
Location of specimen construction (construct specimen at MAST Lab or user’s
site) may include additional budget line items such as shipping costs or specialty
contractor (rigging and millwright) services
Cost and schedule implications of selected project labor (contractors, user’s
personnel, or U of Mn Undergraduate Students)
Specimen demolition requirements
Technical considerations
Specimen fits within geometric constrains of the MAST system
Loads & displacements are within MAST capabilities
Attachment method to connect specimen to fixtures and MAST crosshead